Cumberland brings unique roadshow to Barrow
The community of Barrow are being given the chance this month to help shape the future of The Cumberland.
The building society is going out into the town to get the views of local people on banking in the 21st century.
The Cumberland is bringing its green sofa and other props to the Bridge community hub in the third stop of its unique roadshow around the county.
It hopes the Community Conversations pop-up will help it to better understand what people really want from their building society or bank.
The event will take place at The Bridge on Portland Walk on Friday 26 June, between 10am and 3pm. People are welcome to pop in, take a seat and have a chat.
It’s the latest in a series of such events, with others held in Carlisle and Dumfries last month.
People who dropped in had a range of views and topics to discuss, with a popular concern being the need to have the option of face-to-face contact with The Cumberland’s staff in its branches.
One customer said he liked a bank or building society that shared his values.
“When you're banking with someone you want to make sure that it's someone that seems to care and is involved with communities or causes,” he said. “Having those values helps you relate to them.”
In Dumfries, Leah Halliday, who runs gift shop Flourish on the High Street, was pleased to see The Cumberland taking a genuine interest in people’s views.
She said that having a physical branch in the town brought in more visitors, to everyone’s benefit.
“You hope that people come into town to use the bank but then spend some time visiting other local businesses so you're working together to help regenerate the community,” she added.
Stuart Miller, The Cumberland’s newly-appointed chief executive, has spearheaded the Community Conversations initiative.
He said: “We want to understand what our customers, and potential future customers, value from the Society and where we can improve.
“These conversations will help shape our decision-making going forward. So whenever you see that green sofa, please do stop for a chat.”
Those taking up the invitation will be asked what matters most to them, friendly service for example, or having branches on the high street or the availability of online banking.
They will also be asked to add to the company’s ‘to-do’ list of things it should consider or focus on, and what community initiatives it should support.
Stuart added: “The Cumberland’s purpose is to provide banking services that are kinder to people and the planet. Listening to our customers, and acting on what they tell us, is a vital part of that.”
In addition, The Cumberland has commissioned market researchers YouGov to speak to people across its operating area, which includes all of Cumbria and much of south-west Scotland, Northumberland and Lancashire.
The Cumberland is the largest financial institution in the area with assets of £3.29 billion, mortgage lending of £2.76 billion and 31 branches.
Unusually for a building society, it offers current accounts to individuals and businesses, and provides commercial lending to businesses.
It remains committed to its branch network and in 20 communities, from Lockerbie to Ulverston, it is the only provider still offering high street banking services. Find out more.